Equetus punctatus

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Spotted Drum

Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: South Florida, Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean, and south to Brazil.

Size: 10 inches (25 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow lagoons, reef faces, back reefs, reef slopes and pier pilings and spends daytime hours in caves and under ledges at depths between 15 to 50 feet (5 – 15 m) and in evening hours feeds on shrimp, crabs, worms and various other benthic invertebrates.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade and quite attractive as a juvenile with the white body having a black eye band, a mid body slanted black band, and a black band extending from the top of the white dorsal to and onto the tail, which are both elongated. Has white spots on the dark areas of the tail and dorsal fins. Adults have slanted black bands on the face, with one through the eyes, and one large black band beginning on the forehead and slanting rearward to the caudal peduncle. There are also several other horizontal grey and black lines on the body and numerous white dots on the black dorsal, anal and tail fins.

Requires a large fish-only aquarium with wide-open swimming areas and areas/caves to take shelter during daylight hours or when feeling threatened. As to diet, newcomers are sometimes shy and often difficult to get feeding, therefore require fortified live brine shrimp and/or live glass/grass shrimp to get feeding. Once accepting aquarium foods, a wide variety of frozen and fresh meaty foodstuffs (chopped squid, fish flesh, scallops, shrimp, clam, etc.) can be offered and fed several times daily. Any ornamental crustaceans in the aquarium will also be consumed.

Taxonomy:

Order: Perciformes

Suborder: Percoidei

Family: Sciaenidae

Genus: Equetus

FYI: May quarrel with others in the same genus.

Secretive and shy and require hiding areas.

Cannot compete with more aggressive species for food.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Temperament: Peaceful

Diet: Carnivore

Coral Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: No

Fish Safe: Yes

Acclimation Time: 30 minutes+

Aquarium Environment: Fish-only aquarium

Tankmates: Peaceful or non-aggressive

Minimum Tank Size: 100 gallons

Temperature Range: 72 - 82°F (22 – 28°C)

Specific Gravity: 1.020 -1.026

pH: 8.0 - 8.5